Another Giveaway - Last Night at the Blue Angel

May is such a busy month. I am reading so much, for pleasure and for work, not to mention trying to shut down my house for the summer so I can breathe in cooler climes for a few months. Here in Florida we have exceeded years' worth of heat levels, averaging 90 to 92 every day - already! 

I have two assignments from "Library Journal" this month. Dave Eggers' fans will be pleased to know that he's at it again. "Your Fathers, Where Are They? And the Prophets, Do They Live Forever?" is set for release on June 17th. I've read it already and written the review. That's all I can say. Sorry.

I've also been assigned an interesting historical novel based on the true story of the 1527 Spanish attempt to wrest the town of Apalachee, now Tallahassee, from the native tribes. It's called "The Moor's Account," by Laila Lalami and is written from the perspective of the first black man to step foot in the "new world." You'll be hearing more from me about it once the review has been published.

In the meantime, I wanted to share a novel with you that really impressed me. The author's name is Rebecca Rotert, a poet, songwriter, and performer, who also happens to hold an M.A. in literature. "Last Night at the Blue Angel," is her first novel. It grabbed me with this opening line.

"Mother is a singer. I live in her dark margin."

My review was published in the May 1st edition of "Library Journal" and can be read in its entirety at the Barnes and Noble website. http://bit.ly/1hCUgTd Just scroll down to the Publisher's Weekly review and click on "read more."

I have the advance reader's edition of this very special new book, which won't be out until July. I've dog-eared several pages but I think I refrained from writing in it. Once again, if you love precocious child narrators, this is for you. Speak up or email me at s_bissell@yahoo.com.